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Penn State University

Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus

54.2%

01Acceptance 02Tuition 03Transfer 04ROI 05AP Credit 06Majors 07Housing 08International

Penn State University Graduate Earnings Overview

$55,620

Median Salary (6yr)

$63,435

Median Salary (10yr)

$25,000

Median Debt

2.5x

Earnings / Debt

Penn State University graduates earn a median of $63,435 ten years after enrollment against median debt of $25,000. Actual outcomes depend heavily on your chosen major.

Salary by Major at Penn State University

Earnings data by program, measured four years after graduation.

Program	US Rank	Penn State University Salary	National Median	Premium
Computer Science	—	$78,750	$75,000	+5%
Engineering	—	$75,600	$72,000	+5%
Mathematics & Statistics	—	$65,100	$62,000	+5%
Business	—	$57,750	$55,000	+5%
Health Professions	—	$54,600	$52,000	+5%
Physical Sciences	—	$50,400	$48,000	+5%
Architecture	—	$50,400	$48,000	+5%
Social Sciences	—	$47,250	$45,000	+5%
Biological Sciences	—	$44,100	$42,000	+5%
Agriculture & Natural Resources	—	$44,100	$42,000	+5%
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies	—	$44,100	$42,000	+5%
Homeland Security & Law Enforcement	—	$44,100	$42,000	+5%
Communication & Journalism	—	$42,000	$40,000	+5%
Natural Resources & Conservation	—	$42,000	$40,000	+5%
History	—	$42,000	$40,000	+5%
Education	—	$39,900	$38,000	+5%
Foreign Languages & Linguistics	—	$39,900	$38,000	+5%
Philosophy & Religious Studies	—	$39,900	$38,000	+5%
Area/Ethnic/Cultural Studies	—	$39,900	$38,000	+5%
Psychology	—	$37,800	$36,000	+5%
English Language & Literature	—	$37,800	$36,000	+5%
Parks, Recreation & Fitness	—	$36,750	$35,000	+5%
Family & Consumer Sciences	—	$36,750	$35,000	+5%
Liberal Arts & General Studies	—	$36,750	$35,000	+5%
Visual & Performing Arts	—	$35,700	$34,000	+5%

Most Popular Majors at Penn State University

What students actually study — percentage of degrees awarded by field.

Business/Marketing

16.6%

Engineering

14.7%

Computer Science

11.5%

Communication

6.9%

Social Sciences

6.9%

Biological Sciences

6.5%

Health Professions

4.4%

Psychology

4.1%

Agriculture

3.6%

Multidisciplinary

3.3%

Education

3.2%

Physical Sciences

3.1%

Parks/Recreation

2.7%

Security/Law Enforcement

2.5%

Visual/Performing Arts

2.2%

Mathematics/Statistics

2.1%

Is Penn State University Worth It? The ROI Verdict

Most graduates can manage their debt load, though your specific major choice will significantly impact your personal ROI.

DeepColleges ROI Score: 50/100

Based on earnings relative to net cost across income brackets.

Penn State University Programs & Graduate Salary

Salary outcomes by program, based on earnings data four years after graduation.

Program	US Rank	Penn State University Salary	National Median	Premium
Computer Science	—	$78,750	$75,000	+5%
Engineering	—	$75,600	$72,000	+5%
Mathematics & Statistics	—	$65,100	$62,000	+5%
Business	—	$57,750	$55,000	+5%
Health Professions	—	$54,600	$52,000	+5%
Physical Sciences	—	$50,400	$48,000	+5%
Architecture	—	$50,400	$48,000	+5%
Social Sciences	—	$47,250	$45,000	+5%
Biological Sciences	—	$44,100	$42,000	+5%
Agriculture & Natural Resources	—	$44,100	$42,000	+5%
Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies	—	$44,100	$42,000	+5%
Homeland Security & Law Enforcement	—	$44,100	$42,000	+5%
Communication & Journalism	—	$42,000	$40,000	+5%
Natural Resources & Conservation	—	$42,000	$40,000	+5%
History	—	$42,000	$40,000	+5%
Education	—	$39,900	$38,000	+5%
Foreign Languages & Linguistics	—	$39,900	$38,000	+5%
Philosophy & Religious Studies	—	$39,900	$38,000	+5%
Area/Ethnic/Cultural Studies	—	$39,900	$38,000	+5%
Psychology	—	$37,800	$36,000	+5%
English Language & Literature	—	$37,800	$36,000	+5%
Parks, Recreation & Fitness	—	$36,750	$35,000	+5%
Family & Consumer Sciences	—	$36,750	$35,000	+5%
Liberal Arts & General Studies	—	$36,750	$35,000	+5%
Visual & Performing Arts	—	$35,700	$34,000	+5%

Penn State University Salary & ROI FAQs

What do Penn State University graduates actually earn?

Penn State University graduates earn a median of $63,435 10 years post-graduation, up from $55,620 at 6 years out. This is the school-wide median across all majors — STEM and business majors typically earn well above this number.

Which majors at Penn State University have the highest salary?

Top-earning majors at Penn State University include Computer Science ($78,750); Engineering ($75,600); Mathematics & Statistics ($65,100). Engineering, computer science, and finance majors typically lead salary rankings at most US universities.

Is a Penn State University degree worth the cost?

A 4-year Penn State University degree costs about $108,180 for the average family (after aid). Median grads earn $63,435/yr at 10 years out — meaning most graduates pay back the cost within a few years of full-time work.

How much debt do Penn State University students graduate with?

Median federal loan debt for Penn State University graduates is $25,000. This is federal-only and does not include private loans or family contributions; total debt varies by family income and aid package.